Knowledge transfer group open to Kilkenny forestry growers

ABOVE: Lauren Kinsella, Irish Wood Producers Forester, Patrick Trihy IWP Director, Nicholas Sweetman IFO Chairman, Anthony Browne IWP Chairman, Tom Hickey IWP Director, Liam O’Byrne IWP Director, JJ Kavanagh IWP Director, Ger Woodcock IWP Director

Forest and land owners travelled from Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and Carlow to hear about the new forestry programme 2023-2027 and the new and enhanced schemes available to new and existing forest owners, recently. Scroll down to read more and click NEXT to continue.

On Wednesday 24^th January, The Rhu Glenn Hotel in Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny was the location of the first forestry information session on the new forestry programme for 2024, organised by local forest owner group Irish Wood Producers in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Teagasc.

Anthony Browne, Chairman Irish Wood Producers (a not for profit forestry group, operating in the South East) welcomed everyone and invited forest owners to join the upcoming Forestry Knowledge Transfer Groups being run in Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford. The information sessions / field trips run for 2 hours every week for 7 weeks and participants receive a payment of €80 per meeting if they attend 4 or more. 

Teagasc Forestry Advisor Frances McHugh, presented the range of grant schemes available for planting land with increased annual premia as high as €1,103 per hectare for 20 years for Native forests and other schemes facilitating varied species selection and silvicultural practices. Both Teagasc and the local Irish Wood Producers have been inundated with inquiries for new planting sites and also the new Native Tree Area scheme, which provides annual premia of €2,206 for 10 years and €2,284 for planting for water protection.

Robert Windle, Forestry Inspector, described the many supports available to existing forest owners to help manage and maintain their woodlands including increased Woodland Improvement grants for thinning, tending, agroforestry maintenance, continuous cover conversion, coppice management conversion and seed stand management.  The updated Ash Reconstitution Scheme allows for a grant of €2,000 for clearance and a reconstitution grant at the relevant forest type rate, based on species planted.  Any remaining premium due, will be paid at the new equivalent premium rate. Robert also mentioned pilot schemes such as climate resilience measures to encourage more sustainable forest management, specific to sensitive sites.